Source: The Sun-Herald
The NEED for war.
As far as recent events have happened, the Gaza Strip topic has stucked to my mind lately. I have always felt when War happens, there's always a reason for it, a need. So what was the need there?
In lay-man terms, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been there for centuries, where the area was ruled by many in succession including King David, Ottoman Empire, Egyptians, Israeli and Palestinians. What is in debate is who is in control of the territory? Its is like two boys fighting over a girl. (not to undermine the war but a small analogy) But the girl cannot speak and as love goes, there is no black and white writings just the fight for it.
It has also caused many other debates to the actions and reactions of those 'boys', who punched who first? Or how could aid be given to the girl when the boys still fought during their ceasefire etc. However, what I want to bring forth is the need for the fight.
War has been around for many decades. We have all learnt about the cruelness and evilness of the perpetrators, the suffering of the victims, the crimes committed during the Occupation of our country. Yes, blood is spilled, lives are lost, children became orphans and many die of hunger! Why should we ever want it to happen? Because people believe in THE cause.
If you were to truly love someone, wouldn't you fight for her? If your brother was punched, won't you want to punch the person back? Israel wants Gaza, so does Palestine. Hitler wanted a 'better' society. Alexander wanted the world.
We would do all those things mentioned (in red) but not consider the consequences. So what's the difference?
Through these thought processes I realised much of Singaporeans communication in this modern day are elements of a Social Constructionist Model (One of the 4 models of communication). We never actually experience our forefathers sufferings of war, but we hear about them. We form conclusions about the Gaza strip conflict but most of us has never even been there. We have been taught values and beliefs. To value life, to be a peaceful cosmopolitan society, that war should be opposed but I beg to differ.
The Social Constructionist Model cannot be said to be the whole form of our communication but a large part of it. Knowing this, we should have to be responsible for our talk (things we say in our blog) and not stereotyping situations (The Gaza Conflict). How do we achieve this? We have to experience it for ourselves, to find out the reality of it. Does it mean we have to physically experience it? No, I believe alternatively we can find our answers by forming our own individual opinions and discussing about them. It is only through friction that light can be ignited.
You should write more. =)
ReplyDeleteFrom a fellow Singaporean.
Interesting way of writing.
ReplyDeleteDidnt know you can write so well.
Good job. The way you compare is quite interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete:)) Nice way of putting it.
ReplyDeleteWe indeed do not have to experience things of such mass destruction in order to find the reality of it as we definitely are unable to afford it. Be it the costs of innocent lives lost, damages to buildings etc.
There are lessons to be learned just through sharing of different perspectives.
pretty in-depth and analytical. nice. (:
ReplyDeleteSchweet addition there.
ReplyDeleteWell indeed, war has been apparent for millenias. But we can never quite judge who's right or wrong. Till well.. history does the job for us.
ok tt didn't make much sense..
We can never really conclude what actually is right or best for us. Like take Hitler's domination for one. He was a ruthless man no doubt, but he had certain principals and ideas which may have improved our 'race'. True, it involved billions of innocent lives but he borrowed the idea from the Almighty himself. Rid the bad ones. Build new ones.
But who is he to play God? One may ask.
An ambitious man. That's what.
Without ambition or as u stated, something to fight for, there is no way for survival let alone progress. I know this may sound brutal and extremist but don't we all rid of the pestilences of our lives in a bid to improve them?
So I totally agree, diplomacy only does so much. Sacrifices have to be made. Deaths have to occur. Only the most alarming and controversial of events can change a person's mentality for better or worse.
As for Gaza.. we'll see how the Palestinians manage. I'll get back to you in a decade's time.
I actually feel strongly about this..
ReplyDeleteThere is only so much images of kids dying in my television screen on the news that i can take.
War is a direct result of man's relentless pursuit of power. And who suffers in the end? Hamas my ass..
and Iraq? Weapons of mass destruction? Or was it about the oil?
But them suicide bombers arent exactly saints either, using religion as a means to obtain power. Murder is totally unjustifiable.
Its a messed up world we live in, and its up to our generation to set things right..
nice interesting way to put it. :)
ReplyDeletebut I think whatever the reason, war should never be the course of actions taken. I think it is a very poor reaction, and its as if you lost a argument and you resort to violence.
war should never be a solution to solve any disputes. it involves the innocent and there is nothing gained at the end of it. Compromising to each other's needs and forgiving would be enough to do the job. when both countries are not on talking terms, just invite a 3rd party to help or get a few countries around the region to decide what's best for them.
ReplyDeleteWar. This has always been because of greed, huge ambitions and selfish thinkings of humans that cause war. Not satisfied with what they already have, wanting to be better than others, having everything to themselves, these are common behaviours found everywhere such as schools and business companies. Like war, these behaviours cause unhappiness between classmates and hostility between colleagues. War is just a larger scale of destruction cause by these common yet annoying behaviours of many many human beings. So, can the world be war-free and attain peace forever? A point to ponder.
ReplyDeleteWell, yes many wars are started on ambitions considered less honourable than some. I recently came across this conversation about upbringing. "Would you deter your child by beating him?" Many of us would, yes?
ReplyDeleteAnd thus many of us BELIEVE IN deterence, you might argue that it is different circumstances. However, you might realise they are fairly the same. We all believe in deterence but when the grander scale comes into play, we shiver.
"Wars isn't about who's right, but who's left". Ironically, i agree.